Undercover Hero (3B Hero Series) Book 4

Eight

**** Tina sat in the livingroom drinking tea. She had just lay the mug aside and turned a page of the file, when the door opened in the mud room.

Brittany entered the livingroom and gave her best friend a sad smile. "Hey, I just came back from my brother's. What's up?"

Tina smiled and took another swig of tea. "I raided Gabriel's home made tea mix. Did your dad teach him?"

Brittany shook her head, "No. That was all Grams. What does the file say?"

Tina turned back to the file in her hand, "Well, this... just so happens to be a Strike file."

Brittany felt her jaw drop, "What? How did you get a hold of that?"

Tina beamed, "I just called my dad. He pulled a few strings." When she turned back to her partner the smile faded. "Tany, are you alright? You're really pale right now."

"I'm fine. Just tired. It was a long trip and this is only my first day back home."

Tina turned back to the file, "Honey, this file is on Gabriel's father and sister. Says here that his father was murdered seven years ago. Sadie Ivanov is the main suspect in the investigation. Seems the murder..."

Brittany sat dawn in a chair and curled up. "What?"

Tina shook her head, "It was a lot like that scene at the pool. Blood was every where, except in the water. Says here he was killed in his own back yard. Right next to the pool... Oh, before I go on you need to look this over." she handed the blonde a tox screan. "Molly Sanders autopsy report came in. Seems she had been drugged, then tortured. M.E. says her heart was beating the whole time. She felt it all, she just couldn't call out or anything."

Brittany felt sick all of the sudden, but worked to keep it down. "What kind of sick person would get pleasure out of doing something like this?" she asked as her eyes scanned the report.

Tina shook her head, "I just don't know, but, it gets worse. The autopsy report for Franko Ivanov is so much worse. He was also drugged, I don't even want to try and read it aloud. Anyways it was a drug that leaves you unable to do anything, not even scream for help. Worst part is you are still conscious the entire time. Ivanov felt everything his own daughter did to him. She even cut the skin and muscle from his legs and arms."

Brittany was shocked, "God." Suddenly to Tina's surprize Brittany jumped to her feet and ran from the room, hand over her mouth.

'I really don't blame you, Tany.' she thought when she heard her best friend get sick in the bathroom.

***

True Wolf sat at his desk filling out his daily report when his phone rang. "Sheriff's Department, this is Deputy Wolf. Please state the manner of your call."

"True Wolf, this is Spence." Said the voice on the other end of the line. "Is KB there?"

"Oh, hey. No, sir. The Shariff had to take his daughter to the doctor. She was running a fever, and complaining of ear pain this morning."

In Butte, Montana Spence sat down next to his seven year old son, Justin. "Ouch. Been there. Have you heard what it is? I know that there is a nasty cold going around. Little man here just got over it himself."

"Yeah. KB called about an hour ago. Corinne will be fine. It's a light ear infection. So he'll be off a few days to help take care of her. Charity will be having the babys any day now too. So Kyle, wants to be there for his family. Also his kid sister came home for a month. Agent Ivanov is with her, so is her partner. A..." He checked his notes again, "lets see... Detective Tina-May Jones."

Spence heard a little something in his young friend's voise, "Tina-May, huh. Are we a little interested?"

True felt the color climb up his neck, "What ever gave you that idea?"

The former Ranger laughed, "Just in the way you said her name. Tina, right? I met her a few years ago. But, that was when they were both still in collage. Tany and Tina both came to the ranch for some R&R. See... tall, thin, Aftrican American. Movie star gorgous. Has this kind of glow."

True sighed, "Yeah, that would be her. Damb it, Spence. When she looked me in the eyes... I don't know. It was like bein' shocked with a live wire. She's so..."

"Beautiful?"

"Yes. What is a woman like her doin' as a cop?"

The former Deputy chuckled, "Her father is General Arnold T. Jones. Also known as the Secretary of Defense, and the founder of Strike."

***

Gabriel was just returning from his meeting when Tina met him at the door, "You had better get to the bathroom and fast. She won't let me in."

Confused he lifted a hand up, "Hold up. What are you talking about?"

Tina crossed her arms, "Tany is in the master bathroom. She got sick and is still in there. She will not... let... me... come... in."

With that he was making a beeline for the bath, "Tany, open up. It's me."

When he tested the knob, "Nemnogo Shalun'ya, your father will kill me if I break down one of the Guest Cabin doors."
(Little Minx)

A heart beat later the door opened and she stepped out. She was pale, her eyes dark, and she looked worried. "Babe, we need to talk."